Oldt1mer - Keith's photos with the keyword: Pennington

The Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs - is a very widespread and abundant bird in GB and is commonly seen in gardens hopping about under feeders or taking food from the feeder itself. It is a very colourful bird with the male having a blue-grey cap, rust-red underparts and black and white wing bars whilst the female has a duller greencap, grey underparts and not as much white on the wings. This male, as you can see, has white lesions on its left foot and to a lesser extent on its left foot. This is called Viral Papilloma and is caused by a mite (Cnemidocoptes) which is passed on by contact or even just perching on a place where another infected bird has sat. The disease is also known as 'Tassle Foot', 'Mange' or 'Scaly Foot' and can affect not just the feet but also the legs of infected birds. The disease mainly affects the Chaffinch but has also been found more rarely on Bramblings, Bullfinches, Greenfinches and Goldfinches. The disease which, strangely, can spontaneously disappear, develops slowly over a period of weeks to months and the bird can live quite happily unless it gets too severe causing lameness. Seen at Pennington Flash, Leigh. Explore No 329, Nov 09 2022 This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The Harlequin Ladybird - Harmonia axyridis - is one of the UK's largest ladybird at 8mm and is widespread across the UK. One of the most invasive insects in the world, it is of Asian origin and first arrived in the UK in 2004, rapidly becoming one of the most common in the country as it can have multiple broods throughout the spring, summer and autumn. It is also a predator being able to out compete native species for food and also eating their eggs and larvae. To explain, it took 100 years for the Grey Squirrel to spread though the UK ... it took the Harlequin less than 10 years. Over 100 different colour patterns have been recorded so identification can be awkward at times. This one was seen at Pennington Flash, Leigh. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.

The beautifully marked Great Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos major - is resident across Eurasia from the UK to Japan and will inhabit any area which is not too cold or dry to have woodland habitat. It eats mainly insects and larvae and will happily visit safe feeders for nuts, seeds and suet (as can be seen here). They will also eat carrion occasionally and will raid the nests of other birds for their eggs and even chicks. This one was seen at Pennington Flash. This Picture is fully © Copyrighted. None of my images may be copied, reproduced or altered in any form or manner or placed on the internet or any other social media, or in any form of publication either print or otherwise, in any form or manner without my written permission.